Ligtenberg Travels Weird, Wacky Path To Major Leagues

Inside Baseball

He left baseball once, then returned because he needed a summer job. He made $650 a month playing for a team called the Loons in a league based in Saskatoon.

Among the clubs he could have been traded to were the Mallards, the Smokin' Guns or the Varmints. Instead, he was dealt to the Atlanta Braves. In exchange for some sporting goods.

Kerry Ligtenberg is baseball's most unlikely postseason participant since Jeff Maier, the kid who last October turned Derek Jeter's fly ball into the most discussed homer this side of Babe Ruth's called shot.

''It has been a weird, weird year,'' Ligtenberg said. ''The weirdest year of a weird career.''

He is a piece of the Braves' bullpen today in part because of the rotator cuff injury that ended Mike Bielecki's season. Ligtenberg also earned his promotion by going winless in three decisions at Triple-A Richmond (Va.). But he did compile a 4.32 ERA, the worst of his career.

''When I was first called up, it was a big shock,'' the right-hander said. ''I couldn't believe I was even here.''

Ligtenberg, 26, was born in Rapid City, S.D., and looks like he was born in Rapid City, S.D. He played at the University of Minnesota and received about as much interest from pro scouts as any other pitcher throwing 84 mph fastballs.

But he was convinced to continue his playing days in the independent Prairie League, which is similar to the majors except for three things:

There are 22-hour bus rides.

There is a franchise in Manitoba.

One game had an official attendance of 14.

Former Atlanta catcher Greg Olson, a manager in the Prairie League, liked Ligtenberg's ability and suggested the Braves sign him, which they did before last season.

His arm strength increased, he learned a split-finger pitch and he suddenly found himself in the majors.

''I was kind of in awe when I first got here,'' he said. ''For six days, I didn't say a word.''

But Ligtenberg did pitch, and quite well - 3.00 ERA in 15 games - good enough to make the Braves' postseason roster.

After signing Ligtenberg, as a thank you, Atlanta sent Olson six dozen baseballs and two dozen bats.

''I saw Greg about a month ago,'' Ligtenberg said, smiling. ''He told me he still got the best of the deal.''

Sure, his team didn't make the postseason and sure, Matt Franco didn't play a huge factor in the New York Mets' 1997 season. But we've never understood the value of relevance, and when your uncle is as popular with moviegoers as popcorn, well, you deserve mention here.

Franco comes from a film family, producers and directors littered among his relatives like marshmallows in a bowl of Lucky Charms. And the headliner, the big blue star and giant green clover himself, is none other than Kurt Russell.

''I grew up going to movie sets and watching films being made,'' Franco said. ''The one thing I discovered about it is that making a movie is incredibly boring.''

Russell, 47, a former minor-leaguer, this season took batting practice with the Mets in Houston. He faced reliever Yorkis Perez, who was trying to come back from an injury. Russell did not miss a single fastball he swung at, even drilling one off the outfield wall.

''I could always hit, especially left-handers,'' he said. ''There are at least 10 pitchers in the major leagues I could hit. Give me a week of batting practice, you never know.''

And Perez? Perhaps he should heed the advice from one of Russell's classics:

Escape From New York.

He gave up two runs, then pitched six scoreless innings in Game 4 of the division series against New York. Cleveland's Orel Hershiser was asked what prompted the change. ''My mechanical adjustment,'' he said, ''was letting Brian Giles throw a guy out at the plate.'' . . .

Remember those fuzzy Pete Rose Jr. stories in September? Well, he finished 2-for-14 with nine strikeouts for Cincinnati and has been taken off the 40-man roster, demoted to the minors. . . .

Derek Bell was 0-for-13 in the playoffs and booed by the at-bat by Astros fans. Afterward, he said, ''To boo me every out, that hurt me deeply. The things I do off the field for this city. . . .'' True, Bell sponsors a scholarship program for underprivileged students and donates tickets to children. But, Derek, the true idea of charity is to please others, not yourself. . . .

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said he never lifted a player for a pinch hitter in the first inning until doing so Tuesday, when Javy Lopez replaced Eddie Perez. But he knows it has happened at least one other time. In 1969, New York's Ralph Houk did it to Cox. . . .

The Phillies were 24-61 (.282) at the All-Star break and 44-33 (.571) after, an improvement of 305 percentage points. The only team in the past five decades to improve by as many as 200 points was the 1950 New York Giants.